Thischildoffortunewillhenceforth figure continuously as a personage so considerable that it is appropriate to get acquainted with him. I spoke of his birth when I spoke of his father; wesawthatthiswasnota foundation on which he could build.His bonheur--an unheard of bonheur--filled the lack throughout his long life.He was a big enoughman,dark, handsome,becomelargewith agewithout appearing weighted down, withacountenancebright,open,outgoing,andreallyabitmad,in which the actions and the capacities met.

--Duc de Saint-Simon, "Portrait of the Marquis de Villars, Memoires 15

(GF Flammarion 2001) (Delphine de Garidel, ed.)

The editor quotes Marcel Proust identifying that "a bit mad" as "a mark of genius of the Saint-Simonian variety."